May 11, 2006

Muscles

Lately I have been preoccupied with the development of my muscles as a result of routine swimming. I started swimming a year ago after a lifetime spent in body neglect and savored idleness. The Canadian cold and the long days spent indoors motivated me to start; I felt my body becoming as stiff as a stone. I admit that bodybuilding was far from my mind at the time. A few months later I noticed that my arm’s muscles were developing. The mere sight of them was a total surprise. I started inspecting my muscles frequently, keeping track of their growth. Slowly and gradually their development became the target of my physical exercise. All of the sudden I could understand those body builders, that I used to consider as mere narcissuses. There’s something addictive about the possibility of sculpting your own body. I wonder if my nearing birthday has anything to do with it. This birthday is a dreaded one, in which decimal digits are being replaced. Keeping one’s body young and vital seems to have turned into a goal of its own; an attempt of controlling time’s passage.

Shhhhhhh, don’t tell anyone! It’s a secret. This is the first and last time I am going to raise that subject. This birthday will be un-announced and secretive, I plan to stay 39 forever and trick Mr. Time (Yes, I know it is much more dignified to embrace your age and tell the world it just gets better and better, but who gives).

books

Sebastian Haffner: Defying Hitler: A Memoir A VERY important book. Autobiographical notes written by an Aryan German describing the rise of Nazism from a (seemingly) insider’s point of view. An incredible insight into the nature of us, humans, that raises countless questions. Would we resist too?